Bodycam video shows Providence police using TASER on assault suspect before arrest
Providence, RI - Police body camera video obtained by ABC6 News shows an officer using a TASER in an attempt to arrest an assault suspect.
Police responded to the area of the Sackett Recreation Center on Sackett Street for the assault call on July 9.
According to a police report, officers were advised that a simple assault had occurred in the area and the suspect had fled the scene.
Police said they observed a man matching the suspect description in the area of Cadillac Drive.
An officer is seen on video approaching a man police identified as 34-year-old Abiodun Okikiola.
After some back and forth, the officer asks the man to get on his stomach, but the man gets up instead.
The officer then deploys a TASER.
Despite that, the man was able to get up and run away from the officer.
He was arrested by another officer in the area after a short foot pursuit.
Police charged Okikiola with simple assault and resisting arrest.
According to the police report, the alleged assault victim identified Okikiola as the perpetrator.
Okikiola was arraigned on July 10.
Court records show Okikiola was previously arrested for obstructing police and resisting arrest on April 17.
He was also arrested by Cranston police on a felony assault charge in 2023 and Providence police on a felony assault charge in 2022.
Okikiola is now held without bail for violating bail conditions in both of those cases.
He is due in court on July 24 in reference to the bail violation.
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